Sri Krishna Kathamrita

तवकथामृतं तप्तजीवनम्
tava kathāmṛtaṁ tapta-jīvanam
Bindu
Fortnightly email mini-magazine from Gopal Jiu Publications

Issue No. 449 Śrī Mohinī Ekādaśī 15 May 2019 Circulation 9,392

• Quarrels and Cooperation

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Highlights

• Surrender Unto Krishna

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
• Nama-tattva: The Names for Kali-yuga
Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur
• Beautiful Nitai
The medieval poet Madan Raya

Similarly, either this department or that department, if

you quarrel amongst yourselves it will be detrimental
to my missionary ambition. Please therefore stop this
unnecessary strain. If there is any misunderstanding, it
will be solved when I am present there in April. In the
meantime, please live peacefully, and things may go on
as it is going on. (Letter, 20 February 1969.)
It is not so much that because there may be some faults
in our godbrothers and godsisters, or because there may
be some mismanagement or lack of cooperation, that
this is due to being impersonalists, no. It is the nature
of the living condition to always have some fault. Even
in the spiritual world there is some fault and envy.
Sometimes the gopīs will quarrel over Krishna’s favor,
and once Krishna was so much attracted to Radharani
that by mistake he tried to milk a bull instead of a cow,
Quarrels and Cooperation and sometimes when the gopīs used to put on their dress
His Divine Grace and makeup for seeing Krishna, they would be too much
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada hasty and smear kuṁkuma and mascara in the wrong
So far as your fraternal quarrel is concerned, I may places and their ornaments and dresses would appear
recite in this connection one story: An old father required as if small children had been trying to dress themselves
massaging, so all the children wanted to serve the father. and they were not very expert, like that. There are so
The father divided the right and left portion of his body many examples. But it is not the same as material fault
to be served by the children. Later along with the service, or material envy. It is transcendental because it is all
there was some quarrel between the children, and they based on Krishna. Sometimes when one gopī would serve
were competing by hitting the parts of the father which Krishna very nicely, the others would say, “Oh, she has
was assigned to the opposing party. So the father said done so nicely, now let me do better for pleasing Krishna.”
that you are hitting my different parts due to your That is envy, but it is transcendental, without malice. So
opposition to one another, but I am therefore dying. we shall not expect that anywhere there is any utopia.
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Issue Four Hundred Forty-nine, Page — 2 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
Rather, that is impersonalism! People should not expect
that even in the Krishna consciousness society there
Surrender Unto Krishna
will be utopia. Because devotees are persons, therefore Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada
there will always be some lacking, but the difference is Lord Krishna said in Bhagavad-gītā that one should
that their lacking, because they have given up everything give up all varieties of religion and surrender unto him.
to serve Krishna — money, jobs, reputation, wealth, big That same Lord also said that by giving up one’s own
educations, everything — their lackings have become
transcendental because, despite everything they may
do, their topmost intention is to serve Krishna. “One
who is engaged in devotional service, despite the most Nāma-tattva
abominable action, is to be considered saintly because
he is rightly situated.” The devotees of Krishna are the The Names for Kali-yuga
most exalted persons on this planet. Better than kings, Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur
all of them. So we should always remember that and, like
hare kṛṣṇa hare kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa hare hare
the bumblebee, always look for the nectar or the best
hare rāma hare rāma rāma rāma hare hare
qualities of a person. Not like the utopians, who are like
the flies who always go to the open sores or find the faults These are the topmost sweet names of the Lord.
in a person, and because they cannot find any utopia, or There is no prayer in this mantra. Provocation for all
because they cannot find anyone without faults, they rasas mixed with intimate attachment is found in this
want to become void, merge, nothing. They think that mantra. There is no mention of the Lord’s prowess
is utopia, to become void of personality. So if there is or giving liberation. This mantra reveals only that a
sometimes slight disagreements between devotees, it soul has an indescribable attraction for the Supersoul
is not due to impersonalism, but it is because they are by a thread of love. These names are the mantra for
persons, and such disagreements should not be taken those who are on the path of mādhurya-rasa. Constant
very seriously. The devotee is always pessimistic about deliberation on these names is the best form of
the material world, but he is very optimistic about the worshiping the Lord. All spiritual activities of swanlike
spiritual life; so in this way, you should consider that people, such as worshiping the deity, following vows,
anyone engaged in Krishna’s service is always the best and studying the scriptures, are included in these holy
person. (Letter, 4 February 1972.) names. There is no consideration of time, place, or
… you have dedicated your life for Krishna and candidate for chanting this mantra. The chanting of
therefore you should be ideal. We are introducing this mantra does not depend on the instructions of a
Krishna consciousness movement for the harmony guru or worshiping a deity for some reward. Swanlike
and good will of humanity. But if you yourselves are people are duty-bound to take shelter of these names
suffering from the very ills we are trying to remove, while accepting the previously mentioned twelve
how can the people be influenced favorably? Stop this truths. Swanlike people of foreign countries, whose
fighting, tolerate, chant and read our books. Use the language and social positions are different, should
intelligence and do some service for Krishna. My request accept these holy names in their own language by
to you is to not fight anymore. (Letter, 1 May 1974.) taking a hint from this mantra. This means that in
I have received one letter that both of you had some hot chanting this mantra, there should be no complex
conversation on the points of management, but I request
scientific consideration, useless argument, or any type
both of you not to become agitated on any controversial
of direct or indirect prayer. If there is any prayer at all,
point. A vaiṣṇava is supposed to be more tolerant than
it should be to increase one’s love for God.
the tree and more forbearing than the grass. Besides — From the introduction to Śrī Kṛṣṇa-saṁhitā. English translation
that, we have taken a great mission of the cult of Sri by Bhumipati Das. Vrajaraj Press. Edited and published by
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, so everything should be done Pundarik Vidyanidhi Das. Vrindavan. 1998.

very diligently and soberly so that our missionary activity

may not be hampered. All of our members are giving
voluntary service, so they should always be encouraged
in their service attitude. (Letter, 14 August 1974.)

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Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Issue Four Hundred Forty-nine, Page — 3
occupational duty and taking up another’s, one could tāte kṛṣṇa bhaje, kare gurura sevana
not achieve benefit. It is better, he said, to die engaged māyā-jāla chuṭe, pāya kṛṣṇera caraṇa
in one’s sva-dharma, prescribed duties, than to engage If the conditioned soul engages in the service of the
in the practices of another’s dharma. Where is the Lord and simultaneously carries out the orders of his
spiritual master and serves him, he can get out of the
consistency between these two statements?
clutches of Maya and become eligible for shelter at
Human beings cannot understand the Supreme Krishna’s lotus feet. (Cc. madhya 22.25)
Personality of Godhead by mundane knowledge or
The living entities are Krishna’s eternal servants, and
exercising their own intelligence or expertise. We
Krishna is their eternal master. We are not these bodies
can know him only by his mercy. If we discuss Sri
but spirit souls, parts and parcels of Krishna. This is the
Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes we will
verdict of scripture. When we forget this, however,
be able to solve what appears to be a contradiction
and consider the body and mind as the self, we suffer
in Lord Krishna’s statements. Chaitanyadev appeared
various inconveniences. We come to identify ourselves
in this world to preach kṛṣṇa-kathā and to show the
with the family and country in which we were born.
world Krishna’s magnanimous pastimes. He taught
We proudly consider ourselves brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas,
that we should hear his teachings with full attention.
vaiśyas, or śūdras, mlecchas, males, females, and so on.
After accepting sannyāsa, Mahaprabhu lived at the
As our bodies grow, we also learn to consider ourselves
house of Chandrashekhara Acharya in Kashi. At that
children, adults, or old men. Accepting the body as the
time, Sri Sanatan Prabhu, or Sakar Malik, the prime
self, we proudly identify ourselves as Indian, Bengali,
minister in the King of Bengal’s royal assembly, was
British, Hindu, Muslim, Marwari, Punjabi, or Bihari. We
also present. He asked Mahaprabhu:
are proud to think of ourselves as brahmacāris, gṛhastas
‘ke āmi’, ‘kene āmāya jāre tāpa-traya’
or sannyāsīs. These are the varieties of religion, and
ihā nāhi jāni kemane hita haya
from there, we create or imagine religious principles.
Who am I? Why do the threefold miseries always
Lord Krishna speaks Bhagavad-gītā. In it he states that
give me trouble? If I do not know this, how can I be
benefited? (Cc. madhya 20.102) the spirit soul is eternal and unchangeable and that the
material body is temporary and subject to change. Those
Mahaprabhu replied:
who think the spirit soul changes when the material
jīvera ‘svarūpa’ haya kṛṣṇera ‘nitya-dāsa’
body undergoes change are fools. The phrase sarva
kṛṣṇera ‘tatasthā-śakti’ ‘bhedābheda-prakāśa’
dharmān refers to all the varieties of religions that come
sūryāṁśa-kiraṇa, yaiche agni-jvālā-caya
svābhāvika kṛṣṇera tina-prakāra ‘śakti’ haya when one considers the material body the self, including
the religion based on the four varṇas and āśramas. In
It is the living entity’s constitutional position to be an
eternal servant of Krishna because he is the marginal
fact, it refers to all kinds of religion within the fourteen
energy of Krishna and a manifestation simultaneously worlds that are not related to serving Krishna.
one with and different from the Lord, like a molecular The merciful Lord instructs that we should give up the
particle of sunshine or fire. Krishna has three varieties temporary physical and mental activities and completely
of energy. (Cc. madhya 20.108-109) forget about the bodily concept of life. He wants us to serve
kṛṣṇa bhuli’ sei jīva anādi-bahirmukha the supersoul. But the conditioned souls cannot accept
ataeva māyā tāre deya saṁsāra-duḥkha this simple instruction. In the next line the Supreme Lord
Forgetting Krishna, the living entity has been attracted said, ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva pāpebhyo mokṣayisyāmi, “I will deliver
by the external feature from time immemorial. you from all sinful reactions.” The living entities cannot
Therefore, the illusory energy [Maya] gives him all kinds
imagine that giving up temporary religious principles does
of misery in his material existence. (Cc. madhya 20.117)
not incur sin. Alas! It is an offense not to follow eternal
sādhu-śāstra-kṛpāya yadi kṛṣṇonmukha haya
religious principles, but the conditioned souls who are
sei jīva nistare, māyā tāhāre chāḍaya
indifferent to these principles consider not performing
If the conditioned soul becomes Krishna conscious by some temporary religious principles sinful— not only
the mercy of saintly persons who voluntarily preach
sinful but they imagine that by avoiding these temporary
scriptural injunctions and help him to become Krishna
conscious, the conditioned soul is liberated from the principles they will never find deliverance. Therefore the
clutches of Maya, who gives him up. (Cc. madhya 20.120) Lord said, mā śucaḥ, “Do not worry.”
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Issue Four Hundred Forty-nine, Page — 4 श्रीकृष्णकथामृत बिन् दु
Lord Sri Krishna personally came to give us
instruction about how to serve him. Are we following
his instructions? Are we serious about his order? If
we do not follow his orders or the orders contained
in scripture, if we simply float along on our own
imagination, considering prohibited activity as duty
and neglecting the spiritual master’s teachings, then
who can be blamed for our failures?
— From Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s 108 essential instructions as
presented in Amṛta Vāṇī. A collection of statements from Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. Originally compiled in Bengali
by Sri Bhakti Bhagavat Mayukha Maharaja. Translated into English
by Bhumipati Das. Touchstone Media. Mumbai. 2004.

Beautiful Nitai
The medieval poet Madan Raya
emana nitāi kothāo dekhi nāi
avadhūta-veśa dhari jīve dila nāma hari
hāse kānde nāce āre bhāi
I have never seen such a beautiful Lord as Nitai!

Unknown artist
Accepting the dress of an avadhūta, he gave hari-nāma
to all the living entities. O brother! Just see how he
laughs, cries and dances in love!
advaitera saṅge raṅga dharaṇa nā yāya aṅga He enjoys so many humorous pastimes with Adwaita
gorā preme gaḍā tanu-khāni Acharya; he cannot control his stumbling body; in love
ḍhuliyā ḍhuliyā cale bāhu tuli hari bale of Gaura, he constantly sways here and there. Stumbling
du-nayane bahe nitāira pāni around here and there and raising his hands, he loudly
calls out “Hari! Hari!” Tears flow from his eyes.

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ety for Krishna Consciousness, Founder-Acharya: His Divine Who can speak of Nitai’s qualities? Seeing the fallen
Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. souls of this world with a merciful glance, he delivered
Quotations from the books, letters, and lectures of His Divine Grace A. the entire world through hari-nāma. The unfortunate
C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada ©Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Madan was blinded by lustand remained trapped in sense
International. All other materials, unless specified, © ISKCON
enjoyment. Thus he could not worship Sri Nitai.
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permission is given to redistribute Bindu in electronic or print form — Translated from Vaiṣṇava Padāvalī, fourth edition, April 2010.
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